Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
3,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV
Communications: Internet country code
.km
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
32.52% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
8,200 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
110 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
934,000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
bananas, coconuts, cassava, yams, maize, taro, milk, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$230.338 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$212.551 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$43.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$2.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$44.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$23.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$33.7 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$39.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$22.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$4.076 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$5.248 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$24.621 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$362.1 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$267.652 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
454.524 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
370.425 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
370.318 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
443.409 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
444.454 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
435.493 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
416.585 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
439.463 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
430.721 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
415.956 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
467.184 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
454.991 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
454.524 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$101.9 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$111.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$97.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$108.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$128.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$152.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$151.7 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$69.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$128.331 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$166.032 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$148.455 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$142.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
9.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
9.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
103.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-34.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
11.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
36.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
9.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
50.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,959 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.546 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$3.431 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
34.2 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
30.3 (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, poultry, rice, flavored water, additive manufacturing machines (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$271.6 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$267.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$268.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$304.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$354.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$350.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$342.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$415.965 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$480.268 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$504.036 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$496.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.12% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.8% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.15% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.58% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.79% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
-0.00% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
12.53% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.37% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
5.05% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
276,400 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
44.8% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$2.090 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$2.143 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$2.328 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$2.533 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$2.590 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$2.603 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$2.764 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.901 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.99 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$3.092 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.15% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.32% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.82% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.64% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-0.20% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
2.00% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.60% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.00% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.34% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,938 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$2,949 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,139 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,347 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$3,293 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$3,245 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$3,378 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,642 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,812 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$159.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$131.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$226.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
22.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
22% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
21.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$200.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$159.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$207.9 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$199.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$202.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$294.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$329.7 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$283.746 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$324.561 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$323.946 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.93% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.47% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.39% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.88% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.83% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.81% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
8.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
82.9%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
89.9% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
113.052 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
32,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
22.1 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
7.139 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; soil degradation and erosion from forest loss and crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; silting of coral reefs
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
71.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
17.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
10.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
1.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
4.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
500,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
4.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
33.54% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
91,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
2,235 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
340 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Karthala 2,360 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
12 10 S, 44 15 E
Geography: Geography - note
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel; the only Arab League country that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
Geography: Irrigated land
1.3 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
71.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
17.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
10.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud
Geography: Population distribution
the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Government: Administrative divisions
3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "at the place of fire," referring to the capital's location below the active volcano Mt. Karthala
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
11 42 S, 43 14 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Comoros
Government: Country name: etymology
name derives from the Arabic al qamar , meaning "the moon"
Government: Country name: former
Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Government: Country name: local long form
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic)
Government: Country name: local short form
Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (212) 750-1657
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (212) 750-1637
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
14 January 2024
Government: Flag
description: four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left; a vertical white crescent moon is centered in the triangle, with four five-pointed white stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent meaning: the horizontal bands and the stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is a department of France, but claimed by Comoros)
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de première instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts
Government: Legal system
mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
January 2030
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Assembly of the Union (Assemblée de l'Union)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
1/12/2025 to 2/16/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
33 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) (31); Other (2)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
18.2%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1978
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH
Government: National coat of arms
the coat of arms is in the national colors of green and white; was adopted in 1978; the crescent and stars represent Islam, with the four stars also symbolizing the archipelago’s four main islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan, and Mayotte (the last of which is a French department claimed by Comoros); above and below the sun’s rays is the name of the nation written in French and Arabic; two olive branches, representing peace, are connected by a banner with the national motto in French, which translates as "Unity, Solidarity, Development"
Government: National color(s)
green, white
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Government: National symbol(s)
four five-pointed stars and crescent moon
Government: Political parties
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ Orange Party (2020)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability and stunted economic development. In 2002, President AZALI Assoumani became the first elected president following the completion of the Fomboni Accords, in which the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli agreed to rotate the presidency among the islands every five years. This power-sharing agreement also included provisions allowing each island to maintain its local government. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis with sanctions and a naval blockade of Anjouan, but in 2008, the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, AZALI won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. In 2018, a referendum -- which the opposition parties boycotted -- approved a new constitution that extended presidential term limits and abolished the requirement for the presidency to rotate between the three main islands. AZALI formed a new government later that year, and he subsequently ran and was reelected in 2019. AZALI was reelected again in January 2024 in an election that the opposition disputed but the Supreme Court validated.
Military and Security: Military - note
the focus for the security forces is search and rescue operations and maintaining internal security; a defense treaty with France provides naval resources for the protection of territorial waters, training of Comoran military personnel, and air surveillance; France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on neighboring Mayotte (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense or FCD; includes Comoran National Gendarmerie); Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard, Federal Police, National Directorate of Territorial Safety (customs and immigration) (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 600 Defense Force; estimated 500 Federal Police (2023)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the AND is lightly armed and equipped with small arms, a few light aircraft, and utility vehicles (2024)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
32.6% (male 146,480/female 146,626)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.8% (male 271,139/female 294,231)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.6% (2024 est.) (male 18,139/female 23,526)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
21.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
6.9% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
4.9% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
20.7% (2022)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.55% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
13.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
57.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
49.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 88.5% of population
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 91% of population
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 97.4% of population
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 11.5% of population
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 8.9% of population (2017 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.6% of population
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.5% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.34% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.24 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2010 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
44.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
64.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
53.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
69.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
65.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
72.2% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
79.9% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
75.62% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
179 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
23.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
22.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
23 years (2012 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Comoran
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
7.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
866,628 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.26% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
470,492
People and Society: Population: male
441,215
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.92 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.77 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
24.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
14.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
33.54% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
38 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
18 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
3 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
D6
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 17, container ship 7, general cargo 125, oil tanker 36, other 88
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
273 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Dzaoudzi, Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudu
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
4 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
4
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.